Roving frame spindle and bobbin shaft mountings



May 14 1968 J. R. wHn'EHuRsT ET AL 3,382,660

ROVING FRAME SPINDLE AND BOBBIN SHAFT MOUNTINGS Filed Feb. 21, 196e 5 sheetssheet 1 INVENTORS'. Joe 12. WHnTeHuzST and JANE-s, H JoNrz-e BYMMJWf/QLM.

ATTORNEYS May 14, 1968 J, R, wHrrEHURsT ETAL 3,382,660

ROVING FRAME SPINDLE AND BOBBIN SHAFT MUNTINGS Filed Feb. 21, 1966 5 vShee ts5heec, 2

INVENTORS: Joe E. wmTeHLnzsTanfZ JAMES MIoNE-S May 14, 1968 J. R. wHl'rr-:HuRsT ET Al. 3,382,660

ROVING FRAME SPINDLE AND BOBBIN SHAFT MOUNTINGS Filed Feb. 2l, 1966 3 Sheets-.Sheet 3 INVENTORS JOE: 12. WHWE Hmasl' and FAME- M. JONES ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,382,660 ROViNG FRAME SPINDLE AND BOBBIN SHAFT MUNTINGS Joe R. Whitehurst and James M. Jones, Bessemer City, NE., assigner-s to Ideal Industries, Inc., Bessemer City, NI., a corporation of North Carolina Filed Feb. 21, 1966, Ser. No. 529,064 13 Claims. (Cl. 57--67) This invention relates to an improved spindle and bobbin shaft mounting means for roving frames and the like.

In order to reduce down time of roving frames and to improve their operating eiiiciency, many new and used roving frames are equipped with separate antifriction bearing units and brackets spaced between the conventional bolsters and step bearing brackets and attached to the respective bolster and spindle rails, for rotatably supporting the bobbin and spindle drive shafts, as shown in lesse B. Goodgames U.S. Patent No. 2,551,210, for example.

It is an object of this invention to provide antifriction bearing means for supporting bobbin and spindle drive shafts of a roving frame or the like including antifriction bearing units carried bythe respective bolsters and step bearing brackets in which the upright spindles are journaled, thus obviating the need for separate brackets and permitting modification of existing brackets to accommodate the antifriction bearings.

Another object is to provide bolster brackets and step bearing brackets supporting upright spindles of a roving frame and wherein the brackets have respective selfaligning antifriction bearing units removably mounted thereon in which respective bobbin and spindle drive shafts are rotatably supported.

Still another object is to provide bobbin and spindle drive shaft mounting means of the type last described in which the antifriction bearing units are of split or segmental construction to facilitate positioning them on and removing them from the respective shafts.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a transverse vertical sectional view through a portion of a roving frame or the like, showing how the spindle and bobbin drive shafts are rotatably supported according to the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view, partially in section, looking generally in the direction of the i arrow 2 of FIGURE 1 and showing the bobbin drive shafts carried by the bolster rail;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view looking generally in the direction of the arrow 3 of FIGURE l, showing the spindle drive shafts carried by the spindle rail;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the lower portion of an improved bolster particularly adapted for supporting the improved bearing units of the instant invention on the bolster rail and being taken looking substantially in the direction of the arrow 4 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of an improved step bearing block particularly adapted for supporting bearing units of the instant invention on the spindle rail and being taken looking generally in the direction of the arrow 5 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged sectional plan view taken substantially along line 6-6 in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary vertical sectional View taken substantially along line 7-7 in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a perspective view showing the various parts of one of the bearing units of the instant invention r' ICC in exploded spaced apart relationship and in association with one of the bobbin drive shafts;

FIGURE 9 is a perspective view of the lower portion of a conventional bolster as modified to accommodate a bearing unit of the instant invention; and

FIGURE 10 is a perspective View of a conventional step bearing block as modified to accommodate a bearing unit of the instant invention.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, the numeral broadly designates the frame of a roving machine of a well known type and which is provided with a substantially inverted T-shaped bolster rail or bobbin rail 21 supported for vertical movement on a plurality of horizontally spaced arms 22 which are controlled as to vertical movement by a conventional builder motion, not shown. A conventional stationary spindle rail 23 is mounted on frame 20 and is spaced below and in substantially vertical alignment with bolster rail 21.

A plurality of bolsters or bobbin shaft support brackets 25 are secured to opposite sides of bolster rail 21 by respective screws 26. Bolsters 25 at opposite sides of bolster rail 21 are disposed in off-set or staggered relationship, as is conventional (FIGURE 4), and are particularly adapted to support respective antifriction bearing units, to be later described, which in turn rotatably support corresponding bobbin drive shafts 27, there being one of the bobbin drive shafts 27 adjacent each side of bolster rail 21.

Each bolster comprises a lower body portion 3) having an upstanding tubular portion 31 formed integral therewith on which a rotary package supporting element or bobbin support `32. is mounted for rotation on a vertical axis. As is conventional, each bobbin support bracket 32 is adapted to support a tubular bobbin 33 thereon, and the lower portion of each bobbin support bracket 32 has a gear 34, usually formed integral therewith, which is engaged by a corresponding gear 35 fixed on the corresponding bobtbin drive shaft 27. Shafts 27 are driven by conventional means, not shown. Each bolster body portion is loosely penetrated by an upright rotary spindle element or spindle 37 which extends through the corresponding `tubular portion 31, and above the upper end of the corresponding bobbin 33, and has a conventional tiyer 38 mounted on the upper end .thereof for directing a corresponding textile strand S from the usual drafting rolls, not shown, to the corresponding bobbin 63.

The lower end of each spindle 37 is rotatably supported on a tubular seat or socket 40- projecting upwardly from the body 41 of a respective spindle drive shaft support bracket or .step bearing block broadly designated at 42. It is apparent that one of the'spindle Shaft support brackets 42 is spaced beneath each bolster 2S and that they are disposed in off-set or staggered relationship at opposite sides of spindle rail 23. Each spindle shaft support bracket `l2 is suitably secured to spindle rail 23 by a corresponding screw 43 (FIGURE 3). Each bracket 42 may be provided with a well portion 41u for containing lubricant, not shown, to be conveyed to seat '44! through a channel or passage Aalb formed in body por-tion 41.

Spindle shaft support brackets i2 are particularly adapted to support respective antifriction bearing units, to be later described, which in turn rotatably support corresponding spindle drive shafts 45, there being one of the spindle drive shafts 45 adjacent each side of spindle rail 23. Spindle drive shafts 4'5 are driven by conventional means, not shown, and have corresponding bevel gears 46 rthereon which engage bevel gears 47 fixed on the lower portions of the corresponding spindles 37.

As is well known, as roving frames are conventionally constructed, the bobbin drive shafts have been rotatably moun-ted in U-shaped friction bearing elements positioned in U-shaped outer portions of corresponding holsters. Also, the spindle drive shafts have been mounted in U-shaped auxiliary friction bearing elements secured to the spindle shaft supports. Such U-shaped bearing elements have, in the past, become -worn and have required frequent replacement, notwithstanding the fact that the `wearing of the bearing elements would result in the gears of the bobbin supports, spindles and drive shafts wearing out in acvance of their normal useful liife. ln order to oibviate the difficulties encountered by the wearing of the conventional friction bearing elements, it has been proposed to mount the bobbin and spi;A de drive shafts in antifriction, self-aligning bearings supported on the corresponding bolster and spindle rails :between adjacent `holsters and between adjacent step bearing block The instant invention `provides improved means for supporting the bobbin drive shafts and spindle drive shafts wherein antifriction, preferably self-aligning, bearings are mounted on holsters and step bearing blocks which are particularly adapted to support the antifriction bearings, thus obviating `the need for separate bearing supports boing located between the holsters and step bearing blocks, respectively. Further, existing holsters and step bearing blocks may be easily reworked to accommodate the improved antifriction bearing units of the instant invention, or existing holsters step hearing blocks may be replaced with new holsters and step bearing blocks of the instant invention adapted for supporting the improved antifriction bearing units thereof, as desired. Also, the antii'riction bearing units of the instant invention are so constructed that they may lbe readily removed from or positioned around the corresponding shafts without removing the shafts from the machine or removing any of the gears therefrom; Le., the bearing units of the instant invention need not be passed over the ends of the shafts in order to position the same around the shafts.

The improved means for supporting the bobbin and spindle drive Shafts 27, will now be described.

Each bobbin shaft support bracket 25 and spindle shaft support ybracket 4f?. is particularly adapted to support an antifriction bearing unit or assembly, broadly designated at 5t). The bob-bin drive shafts 27 are rotatably mounted in those bearing units attached to corresponding bobbin shaft support brackets 25, and `the spindle `drive shafts are rotatably mounted in those bearing units "50 attached to corresponding spindle shaft support brackets 42, One of the bearing units 'S0 is shown in detail in vFIGURES 6, 7 and 8 in association with one of the bobbin `drive shafts 27 and with one of the bobbin Shaft support brackets 25, wherein it will be observed that each bearing unit 50 comprises a split annular antifriction `bearing broadly designated at S'l lwhich is mounted in a split bearing casing or housing broadly designated at 52.

As shown, each antifriction bearing 5l1 comprises a Split or two-piece annular outer race and a split or twopiece annular inner race, with a split or two-piece annular ball cage or retainer and antitfriction members or `balls therebetween. The split annular outer race comprises two metallic substantially semicircular separable outer race segments 31, 53a whose radially disposed or diametrically opposed end surfaces are normally secured in abutting relationship kby screws 54 which extend substantially tangentially through corresponding -wall portions of segment '53a and are threaded into corresponding holes 55 in outer race segment 53. The outer surface of outer race segment 53a is provided with recesses 56 in which the heads of the respective screws 54 are positioned so that ythey do not project outwardly of the outer surface of segment 53a when both segments 53, 53a are assembled.

The outer surfaces of outer race segments 53, 53a are of convex arcuate form with the arc thereof being generated about the rotational axis of the outer race segments, but on a radius transverse to the rotational `axis of the outer race segments. The inner surface of each outer race segment 53, F3n is provided Iwith a concave race groove 57. Suitable grooves 6d may be provided adjacent opposite sides of each race groove 57 to accommodate corresponding segmental lubricant seals 61, elle. Each seal seg-ment dil, da may be in the form of a substantially semicircular metal `member having a resilient material R in its inner portion so as to retain lubricant ibettween the seals and in the area of the race grooves when the bearing 5l is assembled.

The inner race of bearing 5l also comprises a pair of metallic substantially semicircular or arcuate inner race segments 63, whose mating diametrically opposed end faces are secured together ey screws 6d which extend tangeutially of and penetrate corresponding portions of r race segment 63a and are threaded into holes 65 rovided in the other inner race segment 63. rhe heads f the screws ed are also positioned in suitable recesses 6 provided in the outer peripheral surface of inner race segment 63a. inner race segments e3, 63a are preferably ot greater axial length than outer race segments 53, 53a and are, collectively, of an internal diameter corresponding substantially to the diameter of shaft 27. A set screw 631; may be provided in inner race segment 63a for securthe same on shaft 27. The outer periphery of each inner race segment d3, 63a is provided with grooves 67, To which correspond to the grooves S7, 6% in outer race segments 53, 53a.

The annular ball cage or retainer comprises a pair of mating metallic substantially semicircular or arcuate retainer segments 73, 73a which are, collectively, of substantially less external diameter than the interal diameter of outer race 53, 53a and which are of substantially greater internal diameter than inner race 63, 63a. Each retainer segment 73, 73a is provided with a diametrically extending row of closely spaced antifriction elements which may be in the form of balls or rollers and are shown as balls 75 in FIGURES 7 and 8. The balls '75 loosely extend through the retainer segments 73, 73a and normally ride in the race grooves 57, 67 of the respective race segments 53, 53a and 63, 63a. The segments 53, 63, 73 and corresponding balls 75 constitute an arcuate segmental subassembly releasably secured, by screws S4, 64;, to an arcuate segmental subassembly composed of segments 53a, 535,', 73a and corresponding balls 75.

It is apparent, from the foregoing description of antifriction bearing 5l in :"GURES 6, 7 and 8, that the same may be readily assembled about and removed from shaft 27 without the necessity of placing the antifrietion bearing 51 over either end of shaft 27, Although the inner and outer races 53, 53a; 63, 63a, retainers 73, 73a, and seals 61, 61a each include two arcuate segments and the respective abutting ends thereof are shown extending radially of the rotational axis thereof, as is preferred, it is to be understood that each race, retainer and seal may be composed of two or more separable segments and adjacent abutting end surfaces may extend at an angle with respect to the plane of a corresponding radius line extending from the rotational axis of the antifriction bearing past the radially innermost edges of adjacent abutting end surfaces. Also, abutting end surfaces of adjacent segments may be of irregular, serrated or stepped configuration provided that they mate properly. In any event, the inner peripheral surface of each race segment and each retainer segment should extend through an arc of no more than about to facilitate assembling each antifriction bearing and so the same may be placed around and removed from a corresponding shaft without the necessity' of passing the bearing over either end of the shaft.

Bearing housing 52 comprises a pair of normally axially aligned juxtaposed, separable components or housing members 8d, 80a which may be identical to each other, although they are oppositely arranged when assembled, as will be later described. Each housing member preferably is so constructed that it may be formed from sheet metal by utilizing suitable punches and dies. As shown, housing members 80, 80a have substantially fiat proximal faces adapted to be secured in abutting relationship by suitable screws S1, 82 penetrating corresponding holes 83 provided in radially projecting fiange portions 85 of the housing members 80, 80a. The holes S3 are preferably located in diametrically opposed relationship.

Each housing member is provided with an arcuate or curved flange portion 87 which projects axially outwardly with respect to the other of the housing members and which is provided with a concave inner surface 90. The configuration of the concave inner surface 90 of each housing member 80, Sila corresponds substantially to one half of the configuration of the outer convex surfaces of the outer race segments 53, 53a when viewed with respect to the mean diametrical plane of outer race segments 53, 53a. In other words, each arcuate surface 90 defines an opening whose diameter corresponds to the diameter of outer race 53, 53a and whose concavit'y is generated about the rotational axis of antifriction bearing 51 but on a radius transverse to the rotational axis.

Opposed ends of the arcuate flange portion 87 of each housing member 80, 80a are spaced apart and define therebetween a radial slot or notch 92 which extends from the innermost to the outermost edges of each member 80, 80a. The notches 92 in members 80, 80a are preferably as narrow as possible, but must be at least as wide or wider than the diameter of the corresponding shaft 27 so the walls of the notches 92 may be moved astraddle the shaft 27 when mounting the bearing unit 50 on or removing the same from the corresponding shaft. When the antifriction bearing unit 50 is assembled, it is preferred that the notch 92 of housing member 80 is positioned in substantially diametricaliy opposite relationship to the notch 9'2 of housing member 80a as shown in FIGURES 7 and 8. Thus, when housing members 80, 80a are assembled, their arcuate surfaces 90 collectively form an annular seat defining an annular opening engageable with the outer peripheral surface of the corresponding annular antifriction bearing S1.

In order to accommodate corresponding antifriction bearing units 50, it will be observed in FIGURES-4 and 5 that the support brackets 25, d2 have respective outwardly projecting lower portions 9d, 95 thereon which underlie and extend outwardly beyond the vertical planes of 4the corresponding shafts 27, 45. Since the portions of the shaft supports 25, 42 which engage the respective bobbin and spindle rails 21, 23 are preferably of substantially greater horizontal width than the outer portions of shaft supports 25, 42, in order to insure that the brackets are firmly seated against the corresponding rails 21, 23, one side of ,the lower portion of each bolster or bobbin shaft support bracket 25 has a pair of spaced outwardly projecting bosses 96, 97 formed integral therewith, the boss portion 96 being integral with body portion 30 and the boss portion 97 being integral with the outer end of portion 94 of the corresponding bobbin shaft support bracket 25. One side of each spindle shaft bracket 42 (FIGURE 5) also has a pair of spaced boss portions 100, 101 integral with and projecting outwardly from the body portion 41 and the lower projecting portion 95 thereof, respectively. Boss portions 96, 97, 100, 101 are provided with respective internally threaded holes a-d.

It is thus seen that. upon a bearing unit 50 being positioned on either shaft 27, in the manner heretofore described, the screws 81, 82 thereof are then threaded into the boss portions 96, 97 of the corresponding bobbin shaft support bracket 25 to secure the bearing unit 50 thereto while retaining the antifriction, self-aligning bearing 51 in the corresponding housing 52. It is apparent that a bearing unit 50 may be secured to each spindle shaft support bracket 42 in a similar manner. In order that gears 35, 45 may properly engage respective gears 34, 47 (FIG- URES 1, 2 and 3), bosses 96, 97 and 100, 101 should project from the sides of respective support brackets 25, 42 remote from the respective gears 35, 46 so that corresponding bearing units 50 do not interfere with the operation of these gears. Note, therefore, that those brackets 42 adjacent the right-hand side of spindle rail 23 in FIGURE 4 are opposite hand with respect to the brackets 42 adjacent the other side of rail 23. It should be noted that, in the event that replacement of any one of the bearing units 50 is desired, the entire bearing unit may be disassembled and entirely or partialy removed from the corresponding shaft and replaced with a new bearing unit, or any parts of the old bearing unit may readily be replaced with new parts, as the requirements may be.

As heretofore described, boss portions 96, 97 (FIG- URES 2, 4 and 6) and boss portions 100, 101 (FIGURES 3 and 5) are integral with the respective holsters 25 and step bearing blocks d2, as may be desirable in the manufacture of new `roving frames or in forming such shaft support brackets for the replacement of severely damaged or broken shaft support brackets on existing roving frames. It can be appreciated, however, that integrally formed support brackets of these types require many precise machining operations in the manfacture thereof which would not be required in the case of reworking or modifying conventional bolsters and step bearing blocks which may be available on existing roving frames and the like.

Accordingly, a conventional bolster 25 and a conventional stcp bearing block 42 are shown in respective FIGURES 9 and l() as they may be modified and reworked to accommodate antifriction bearing units according to the instant invention. Conventionally, the bolster or bobbin shaft support bracket 25 includes a body 30 and upstanding tubular portion 31 which correspond substantially to the body 30 and opstanding tubular portion 31 shown in FIGURE 4. Unlike the bolster 25 of FIG- URE 4, however, the conventional bolster 25 of FIG- URE 9 includes a forwardly projecting substantially U- shaped extension which has been adapted to contain a U-shaped or semicircular friction bearing, which is omitted and not used in this instance. In order to adapt the conventional bolster or bobbin shaft support bracket 25' (FIGURE 9) for supporting an antifriction bearing unit 50 which may be identical to the bearing unit 50 as heretofore described, a boss member 106 is secured to one side of body 30', as by welding at 107, and another boss member 110 is secured, as by welding at 111, to the free end portion of the substantially U-shaped extension 105. One end of boss member 110 is positioned in the same plane as the outer end of boss member 106 nd both members 106, 110 are provided with respective threaded holes e, f for receiving respective screws 81', S2 for securing the corresponding antifriction bearing unit 50 to the corresponding ends of boss portions 106, 110 and thus to the bobbin shaft support bracket 25. As shown in FIGURE 9, a bobbin drive shaft 27 is adapted to be .rotatably mounted in bearing unit 50. Since antifriction bearing unit 50 may be identical to bearing units 50, a further description thereof is deemed unnecessary.

Referring to FIGURE 10, it will be observed that the various parts of the conventional type of step bearing block or spindle shaft support bracket 42 are quite similar to those parts of the integrally formed step bearing block 42 shown in FIGURE 5. Accordingly, those parts of the conventional step bearing block 42 shown in FIG- URE l0 which correspond to, or are substantially the same as, parts of the step bearing block 42 shown in IGURE 5, will bear the same reference characters with the prime notation added in order to avoid repetitive description. It will be noted that instead of having boss portions formed integral therewith, such as boss portions 100, 101 of FIGURE 5, the body 41 and the outer portion of lower projection or extension 95 of the step bearing block 42' shown in FGURE 10 are provided with respective boss members 115, 116 projectincr outwardly therefrom and being suitably secured thereto, as by welding at H7, 11d, respectively. Boss members 11.5, 116 are also provided with respective threaded holes g, h for receiving screws 8l', S2 of a corresponding antifriction bearing unit 50 for rotatably supporting spindle drive Shaft 45.

It is thus seen that we have provided improved means for rotatably supporting the bobbin and spindle drive shafts of a roving frame or the like in self-aligning antifriction bearings which may be readily assembled and positioned around or removed from .the respective shafts without removing or displacing any pre-existing elements, such as gears 35, 4.6, on the respective shafts 27, 45, and wherein the bearing units are mounted on bolster and step bearing blocks which support the bobbins and spindles, respectively, of the roving frame thereby obviating the need for separate bearing brackets for the antifriction bearings. Further, it can be seen that only minor modifications are required to adapt existing holsters and step bearing blocks to accommodate the improved bearing units or, if desired, new holsters and step bearing blocks may have such minor modifications readily incorporated therein when they are formed.

In the drawings and specification there have been set forth preferred embodiments of the invention and, although specic terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

We claim:

1. In a. roving frame and the like having a frame, a plurality of substantially vertical rotary spindle elements and cooperating rotary package supporting elements, and at least one substantially horizontal drive sha-ft operatively connected to some of said elements for driving the same; improved means rotatably supporting said (d) vmeans engaging and -releasably maintaining said segments in abutting annular relationship. 2. A structure according to claim .1, wherein the separable subassemblies 0f each bearing collectively comprise an annular inner race, an .annular outer race, and

an annular -retainer having an annular row of antifriction elements therein projecting from inner and outer surfaces of said retainer and engaging proximal surfaces of said inner .and outer races, and said races and said retainer each comprising at least two arcuate metal segments each extending through an arc of no more than 180 at the inner Kperipheral surface thereof.

3. -A structure according to claim 2, in which each arcuate segment is substantially semicircular.

4. A structure according to claim 2, in which said engaging means comprises screw means securing together the adjacent ends of the arcuate segments of each race.

5. A structure according to claim 2, -in which the separable subassemblies also include at least one annular lubricant seal extending between said annular inner and .outer races, land said seal also comprisingy at least two arcuate segments.

6. A structure according to claim 1, in which said bearing supporting means comprises a bolster through which a medial portion of the respective spindle element loosely extends.

7. A structure according to claim 1, in which said bearing supporting means comprises a step bearing block having a socket in its upper portion in which the lower end of the respective spindle element is rotatably supported.

S. A structure according to claim 1, in which said engaging means comprises a bearing casing having an aunular opening therethrough defined by an annular seat engaging the outer peripheral surface of the corresponding annular bearing.

9. A structure according to claim 8, in which each bearing is self-aligning.

l0. A structure according to claim 8, in which each bearing casing comprises a pair of axially `aligned juxtaposed separable components each having a substantially radial slot therein extending .from said `opening `to the outermost surface of the component and being of a width `at least as large as the diameter of said shaft, and means releasably securingr said components together in axially aligned relationship with the slots thereof in out-of-phase relationship so the components collectively define said annular seat whereby said components may be axially separated to release the respective bearing therefrom and then removed from or placed around said .shaft by moving the walls of the yrespective slots radially astraddle and past said shaft.

11. A structure according to claim 8, in which the 'outer periphery of each annular 4bearing is convexly curved on a radius transverse to the axis of the bearing, and said annular seat being concave to permit self-alignment of the respective bearing therein.

l2. A structure according to claim l11, in which said bearing casing comprises Ia pair of laxially aligned, juxtaposed and separable components, and wherein each component defines approximately one-half of said concave seat with respect to the median diametrical plane of the seat; and means releasably securing said components together in axial alignment, said securing means permitting separation of said components -for iremoving and installing the respective bearing therein.

13. A structure according to claim 12, in which each of said casing components has a radial slot therein of a width lat least as large as the diameter of said shaft and extending from said seat to the outer surface of the component to facilitate placing each component around and removing the same from said shaft.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,700,800 2/1929 Keyser 57--102 XR 2,124,753 7/1938 Schultz 308-196 2,153,028 4/1939 Schanzer 308-196 2,464,712 3/ 1949 Pearson 30'8-196 2,551,210 5/1951 Goodgame 57-4102 2,654,644 10/ 1953 1Sutowski 308-196 2,875,645 3/1959 Keyser 57-102 XR 2,896,394 7/19'59 Iohnson 57-67 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,237,669 6/ 1960 France.

FRANK I. COHEN, Primary Examiner.

D. E. VJATKNS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A ROVING FRAME AND THE LIKE HAVING A FRAME, A PLURALITY OF SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL ROTARY SPINDLE ELEMENTS AND COOPERATING ROTARY PACKAGE SUPPORTING ELEMENTS, AND AT LEAST ONE SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL DRIVE SHAFT OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SOME OF SAID ELEMENTS FOR DRIVING THE SAME; IMPROVED MEANS ROTATABLY SUPPORTING SAID SHAFT COMPRISING: (A) A PLURALITY OF ANNULAR ANTIFRICTION BEARINGS IN WHICH SAID SHAFT IS JOURNALED, (B) MEANS SUPPORTING EACH BEARING ON SAID FRAME, (C) EACH BEARING COMPRISING AT LEAST TWO ABUTTING BUT SEPARABLE ARCUATE SEGMENTAL SUBASSEMBLIES WHOSE RESPECTIVE PORTIONS ADJACENT SAID SHAFT EXTEND THROUGH AN ARC OF NO MORE THAN 180* SO THAT THE SAME MAY BE PLACED AROUND AND REMOVED FROM SAID SHAFT WITHOUT PASSING THE BEARING OVER EITHER END OF THE SHAFT, AND (D) MEANS ENGAGING AND RELEASABLY MAINTAINING SAID SEGMENTS IN ABUTTING ANNULAR RELATIONSHIP. 